It's unfortunate because Ashton has had a good spring - he's really advanced from where he was last year, as a true freshman and converted quarterback, and he's gotten valuable experience with Watkins out. I think that, on two or three times, he has been in the right place at the right time in just the wrong position. Today, he had his weight too far back and got toppled by a back who was running with more fire than in your average spring practice. I really think he'll be OK, seems like a tough kid - personality-wise, he reminds me of Boyett at Oregon, except four or five inches taller.

Come on, guys - I don't delete comments. I cherish each and every one. Moderators sometimes do, though, and that's why we have to keep it clean and somewhat civil. This comment is OK, because I know that "p.o.s.'' actually stands for "put Oregon seventh,'' and yes, I did that - No. 7 also was the most common ranking of the Ducks among the AP voters.

Yeah, it was impressive. And no, Stanford wasn't overrated. They were unbeaten! As far as the magnificent SEC defenses, LSU and Alabama are freakishly big and fast - so much so that they neutralize what Oregon does on offense. The Ducks can still pop a big play here and there, but I don't think they would have the balance they need or get their mismatches in space. As for the LSU loss, it's still a loss, even if it was a true freshman who lost the ball. The Ducks probably can't make the top 2 in the BCS because a) they can't pass LSU, and b) they won't get a bump from the Pac-12 title game because their opponent will be weak and c) Oklahoma would jump them if they beat Okie State. Sorry, that's how I see it.

OK, point taken. "Manhandled'' was the wrong word. But there is a physical superiority there that makes it very hard for Oregon to overcome. It's a really bad matchup for the Ducks, especially with LSU's secondary allowing them to stuff LaMichael & Co. But who knows? Oregon might get another crack at them.

Wow, tough crowd! I catch heat for being unlike other voters (Oregon and Oklahoma) and also for being too much like them (ranking those good teams over those not-so-good ones). It's kind of like driving down the highway, getting irked at people who drive too fast or too slow but really getting miffed at the guy who drives exactly the same speed.... Thanks for the input - especially the guy who laid out the offenses Alabama has played (of course, 'Bama drives down those teams' numbers, too).

There is no punishment for losing early. In Week 2, the Ducks were sitting at 0-1, and a very strong case could be made for a bunch of 1-0 teams to be ranked ahead of them: Oklahoma (No. 1 at the time), Stanford, Wisconsin, Boise State, Oklahoma State, even Florida State, etc. Now, Alabama loses and only four teams (plus Houston) have a better record. There is a lot that has shaken out. And there's more shaking to do.